Rapid City Man's Sleepover Rape Conviction Upheld

South Dakota justices have upheld a Rapid City man's conviction for raping a 9-year-old girl at a slumber party at his house.

Jeremy Bauer was found guilty of first-degree rape for the April 2012 attack and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Bauer appealed his case on grounds the courtroom should not have been closed to all but the parties in the case, the media and the victim's assistant when the girl testified. He also said his lawyer wasn't effective.

In a ruling filed Thursday, the state Supreme Court disagreed and affirmed the conviction.